Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-19
THE CITY HOLE,
And the Ways Out Of Ito COun
cilmen.


cilmen.
With reference to this lot, in an edi
torial of your paper on Sunday, it says
among other things: "While it is gen
orally considered that the price paid was
fair one, yet in view of the fact that
the Councilmen were selling the lot to
themselves, it is thought not hardly the
proper thing to do. While these mem.
bers of the Council are well satisfied
that they had not paid cent too much
for the lot; yet they think it best in
view of the trouble which might arise
hereafter to draw out of the syndicate.
This throws the property back upon
the market, etc.
1t is really gratifying 6 to know that our
city fathers were men of such sterling
integrity, and also that the city has
made quite nice little sum by the 10 per
cent. s'profit," which as a matter Of
course was required of them to be put
up according to the order of sale at the
time of purchase, and usual in like
business transactions.
1t is but a few months ago since
offered to this self same Council the
st, Vincent College block for a City
Hall, either at 500, 900 in money or as
an even exchange for the lots in ques.
ton. There were many objections raised,
but finally this self same Council
or a portion of it formed the greater
part Of syndicate to purchase this valu-
able property on their own account, and
worth to day about double the value Of
said "city hole" Now, am satisfied
that these self. same Councilmen. as they
lave as aforesaid proved themselves to
be men of sterling gritty, are not dis
posed to take any advantage of city
entrusted to their care. If you will sim.
ply call their attention to the fact they
will not hesitate for moment, but will
Immediately signify their willingness to
turn the ST. Vincent's block over to the
city at cost, and if they will give me two
weeks time l will raise the money out of
the city hole with which to pay the bill,
which their past seeming financial ina
biiity has failed to do.
Iwould say-there are but few men
WdlhlDS Jul otICCb5 Win Sl ~O,OOO
in cash in their vest pockets ready to
dump into this hole all at one
time. But let these wise financiers
divide this l2O feet on Spring into six
lots of 20 feet each, offer it at auction on
terms one-fourth cash, balance on or be-
fore two years at per cent. per month,
secured by notes aud mortgages. The
purchasers will Immediately improve
such valuable business property, thereby
adding largely to the security, aud the
three.fourths remaining unpaid would
read ly sell at par if not at premium,
and there are many monied men stand.
ing ready 10 buy such valuable property.
The city could then we'll afford to sell
it's $50 feet on Fort--so entirely unfit as
the location of handsome public building
either at cost or even a little less, then
use the present college building as city
hall for some time, and finally, when it
is in the very center of beautiful city
of $50. 900 people, erect a city hall that
would be a credit to the proud capital Of
Southern California.
Now in conclusion--if nothing eau be
done and we are to suffer country
cross road fogy.fnancicering, will
suggest that We fence in the City Hall,
put concrete bottom and sides to it,
fill it with water, put in some sea lions
and other sea serpents, take away the
old well-worn grain sacks that are
tackled over the openings and put on
some new ones, or few boards would
be better, to keep the prisoners from
falling in the yard and drowning; get a
few monkeys and other curiosities and
put in the cages on top of the Jail that
now stand as hideous points of our ar.
chitecture, and the income from this
additional show to the white elephant
before referred to, will pay a part of the
interest on the city debt.
JOHN +. HUMPHREYS.